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F.E.S.S.M. C.M.P.N. Published on January 4th, 2012
APPENDIX
RECREATIONAL SCUBA DIVING CONTRAINDICATIONS
This list is indicative but not necessarily exhaustive.
Individual affections must be addressed on a case-by-case basis, and when possible, after a specialised opinion.
Decisions should be made in light of diver experience and condition (beginner, confirmed diver or instructor).
In case of disagreement, the final decision must made by the Regional Medical Commission, with a possibility of
appeal to the National Medical Commission (CMPN).
Definitive contraindications
Temporary contraindications
Cardiovascular
conditions
Congenital heart disease
Symptomatic heart failure
Obstructive cardiomyopathy
Pathology with risk of syncope
Paroxysmal tachycardia
Non pacing 2nd degree or complete
AV block
Rendu-Osler disease
Valvular heart disease(*)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Coronary artery disease: evaluation
required(*)
Pericarditis
Antiarrhythmic treatment: evaluation
required(*)
Systemic or topical beta blocker treat-
ment: evaluation required(*)
Right-to left shunt evidenced after a
cerebral or vestibular form of decom-
pression sickness(*)
Ear, Nose and
Throat
conditions
Unilateral cophosis
Petromastoidectomy
Ossiculoplasty
Tracheostomy
Laryngocele
Bilateral deafness: requires audiome-
tric exploration(*)
Otospongiosis
Fracture of the petrous temporal
bone
Uni or bilateral destructive labyrin-
thitis
Perilymph fistula
Uncompensated vestibular hypo-
function
Otologic surgery
Acute ENT infection
Nasal-sinus polyposis
Tubo-tympanic disorders leading to
alterno-baric vertigo
Vertiginous seizure or immediate after-
math of a seizure
Unexplored vertigo
Vestibular asymmetry equal or greater
than 50% (6 months)
Punctured eardrum (and transtympanic
aerators)
Barotrauma of the inner ear
Labyrinthine decompression ac
Right-to left shunt: evaluation required(*)
Pneumology
Respiratory failure
Interstitial fibrosis
Pulmonary vasculitis
Asthma: evaluation required(*)
Spontaneous pneumothorax or after
surgery for subpleural emphysemal
blebs: evaluation required (*)
Lung surgery
Infectious pathology
Pleurisy
Chest trauma
Ophthalmology
Vascular disease of the retina, cho-
roid, or papilla, non stabilised and
susceptible to bleeding
Keratoconus > stage 2
Hollow eye prosthesis or implant
For level 3-4 divers or instructors:
binocular vision with correction <
5/10 or one eye vision < 1/10 if the
other < 6/10
Acute diseases of the eyeball or its
appendages, until healed
Photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK:
1 month
Phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy
and vitreo-retinal surgery: 2 months
Corneal graft: 8 months
Topical beta blocker treatment: evalua-
tion required(*)
